Sacrifice || ENHYPEN FF

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 77

~hullooooo~

-Start of Chapter 77-

The horse slows as we approach the tents, the chatter of everyone waking up and packing fills the air. It's busy, but it's not loud—more like a hum of morning energy, people getting ready to move on. 

As Sunghoon jumps down, Jake's the first to notice us. He's standing near a pile of folded blankets, grinning as we come into view. "Look who decided to come back" he says, his voice full of teasing.

Yeonjun, sitting in front of him, doesn't even bother to respond. Instead, he twists around, his eyes locking on mine. "Do you know how worried I was when I woke up and you weren't there?!" His voice is sharp, but there's more concern than anger in it.

I roll my eyes as Sunghoon reaches up to help me down. "I was fine, Oppa. Relaxxx."

As soon as my feet touch the ground, Riki stumbles out of one of the tents, rubbing his eyes and yawning dramatically. He blinks a couple of times at me and Sunghoon, then smirks like he's caught us red-handed. "Did you lovebirds sneak off somewhere?"

I shoot him a look. "To see the sunrise" I say flatly.

Before Riki can get in another comment, Hueningkai perks up from his spot near the fire. "Oh! I wanna see the sunrise too!" he exclaims, his face lighting up like he just discovered his life's mission.

Soobin, who's busy tying up a saddle, barely glances up. "You can do that in your own time" he says, his tone completely uninterested.

Hueningkai pouts, flopping back onto a log with a dramatic sigh.

In the corner, Heeseung and Jay's tent is still zipped up tight. Riki notices and claps his hands, grinning mischievously. "I'll wake them up" he announces before darting off.

Not even a minute later, both of them stumble out, looking like they just lost a battle with their pillows. Heeseung mumbles something about needing more sleep, and Jay yawns loud enough to make me yawn too.

I'm about to join Hueningkai on the log when Jungwon's voice cuts through the noise. "Wait" he says, looking around with a frown. "There's still one person missing."

Taehyun sighs, shaking his head like he's already tired of the situation. "Choi Beomgyu's still in his dreamworld."

Soobin groans softly, muttering something under his breath as he stalks toward Beomgyu's tent. 

A second later, there's a loud slap followed by a yelp.

Soobin walks back out like nothing happened, brushing his hands off, while Beomgyu stumbles out after him, rubbing his head and pouting like a kicked puppy. 

"Was that really necessary?" he whines, his voice still groggy.

"You tell me." Soobin says without looking back, already focused on packing again.

I can't help it—I laugh. Beomgyu's pout deepens, but it only makes me laugh harder.

~~~~~~~

We set out for the journey again as the horses fall into a steady rhythm. The sun hangs high in the sky, casting sharp beams of light over the trees. But the deeper we travel into the forest, the more those rays struggle to break through the thick canopy above. Shadows stretch and crawl along the ground, swallowing the brightness little by little.